For Prescribers

Providing balance to people
with peripheral neuropathy

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Places Patients at Higher Risk for Falls²

1 in 4 Adults Fall | Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy | RxFunction

Diabetic 15 Times More Likely to Fall | Peripheral Neuropathy | RxFunction

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Places Patients at Higher Risk for Falls | RxFunction

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Interventions Needed | RxFunction

Common treatment interventions include use of assistive devices, balance training and physical therapy

These interventions are largely compensatory and are unable to address the lack of sensation in the feet

Walkasins^® offers a newly available option, clinically-proven to significantly reduce fall risk in patients with Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy⁴. See PLOS ONE.

Healthcare Providers are Encouraged to Adopt and Implement Clinical Practice Guidelines for Fall Prevention

Screen

Regular screening of patient-reported fall history and fear of falling is an important step in identifying patients at risk of falls.

Assess

Specific fall risk factors, including Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy, along with evaluations of gait and balance may suggest a Falls Plan of Care be developed and interventions implemented.

Our Balance Assessments Handout provides information on gait and balance outcome measures that may help with assessing patients at risk for falls.

Intervene

Interventions, devices, and treatments to address the identified risk factors should be implemented to help mitigate high fall risk and improve safety.

In addition to balance training, physical therapy, medication adjustments and home safety modifications, Walkasins is now available for patients with sensory peripheral neuropathy who present with gait and balance impairment and are at high risk of falls⁴.

Our Clinical Assessment Form can assist clinicians, such as physical therapists in determining whether Walkasins is clinically appropriate.

Place an Order

To order Walkasins for a patient who may benefit, please fax the completed Walkasins Prescription Form along with the Clinical Assessment Form to RxFunction at 844-925-5279.

A member of our team will contact your patient to review pricing and answer any questions.

Questions

Our RxFunction team is here to answer questions or provide additional information

Please call us at 888.382.3518 and ask to speak with:

An on-staff Physical Therapist to discuss clinical appropriateness for your patient
A Reimbursement Specialist to learn about coverage and payment options

Information for Prescribers Handout

If you’re new to Walkasins^®, download our Information for Prescribers Handout designed to provide doctors and other healthcare professionals with what they need to know about Walkasins.

Prescribers are encouraged to work with or refer patients to physical therapy to ensure that patients are properly assessed for gait and balance impairments, and for fall risk.

Download PDF

Walkasins Wearable Sensory Prosthetic | Information for Prescribers Handout

Indications for Use

Walkasins is an external lower limb sensory prosthesis intended to replace the nerve function used for detection and signaling of foot pressure sensation.

Walkasins is indicated for patients with lower limb sensory peripheral neuropathy who present with gait and balance impairments. Walkasins is indicated for patients who can feel the tactile stimuli from the Leg Unit on the lower leg.

Contraindications for Use

Walkasins is contraindicated for:

Untreated lymphedema;
Untreated lesion of any kind, swelling, infection, inflamed area of skin or eruptions on the lower leg near product use;
Acute thrombophlebitis including deep vein thrombosis;
Untreated fractures in the foot and ankle;
Severe peripheral vascular disease.

Patient Selection Criteria

Age: Any, as long as the Foot Pad and Leg Unit fit properly.

Weight: 55 – 300 lbs. (25 – 136 kg).

Health: Must be able to walk without severe impairment even when using assistive devices.

Education: Must be able to read and understand Instructions for Use.

Indication for Use

Please see the Safety Information for a complete list of warnings, precautions, and contraindications.

Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

¹CDC.gov.

²Richardson JK, Hurvitz EA., Peripheral neuropathy: a true risk factor for falls. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995 Jul;50(4):M211-5.

³P.R. Cavanagh, J.A. Derr, J.S. Ulbrecht, R.E. Maser, T.J. Orchard Problems with gait and posture in neuropathic patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Diabet Med, 9 (5) (1992), pp. 469-474.R.

⁴Koehler-McNicholas SR, Danzl L, Cataldo AY, Oddsson LIE (2019) Neuromodulation to improve gait and balance function using a sensory neuroprosthesis in people who report insensate feet – A randomized control cross-over study. PLOS ONE 14(4): e0216212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216212.

Providing balance to people with peripheral neuropathy

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Places Patients at Higher Risk for Falls2